A Saturday for Cross-Countrymen

"It is simply that we can all be good boys and wear our letter sweaters around... Or we can blaze! Become legends in our own time, strike fear in the heart of mediocre talent everywhere!"~from Once A Runner

This weekend's 2007 Seneca X-C Invitational was much more local than last week's, and in a great turn of events, both boys' schools were running. (My daughter, who runs for her school's Varsity team had the weekend "off" due to PSATs.)

As exciting as it can be to watch one child, or the other, run a single race, it is even better to have the rare opportunity to see both in the same event. To be honest, though there was a full slate of races scheduled yeesterday morning at Seneca Park, ranging from Modified Boys to Varsity Girls, as Jack and Greg were both running Mod Boys, our viewing interest (other than my students who ran in the Mod Girls race earlier) was limited to the two modified races; especially since there were many other things to be accomplished this day.


It was a beautiful fall day and what little drizzle remained from the early morning quickly burned off as the races began. There were quite a few schools in attendance, and due to the date of the invitational being changed from last to this week, Greg's school was suddenly available to attend. As has been the case in previous weeks, there was a large crowd of on-lookers who came to cheer their kids (and schools) on.



Both boys ran well; Jack came in 37th overall and third on his team, while Gregory ran his best race to date--running with confidence despite a pre-race knock in the head. (Whoever said playing football prior to a race as a "warm-up" technique probably should reconsider!)


It is hard to believe that Jack's modified cross-country season will be over next weekend, following the District Meet at Mendon Ponds Park. Gregory's school will not be participating, but he, too, is seeing his season draw to a close and the swimming season beginning to take flight.

Whether either boy runs cross-country next Fall, and I hope both run for the rest of their lives, it has been a season full of great promise!

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!